TRANSFORMING RURAL YOUTH INTO ENTREPRENEURS: NEMISA AND WSU DRIVE CELLPHONE REPAIR TRAINING IN LUSIKISIKI

Walter Sisulu University (WSU), in partnership with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), has launched a four-week cellphone repair training programme in Lusikisiki to tackle youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship.

Thirty participants, mostly from local communities such as Gqathula, Mzintlava, Mlangeni and Ngobozana, are taking part in the training hosted at the Lusikisiki Health Resource Centre. The group includes students and graduates in fields ranging from engineering to tourism and social sciences.

Among them is Qaphela Noguda, a third-year Electrical Engineering student at WSU, who says the programme offers him a chance to apply his skills and build a future business.

The training, coordinated by Ms. Sibukele Gumbo, Director of the NEMISA eSkills CoLab at WSU, blends theory with hands-on practice. Week one focuses on digital entrepreneurship and website development, led by the Vaal University of Technology. Technical repair training follows in weeks two and three, while the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) concludes the programme with sessions on funding applications and business support.

Each participant receives a cellphone repair toolkit, diagnostic software training, and assistance in registering a business. To ensure sustainability, the programme extends beyond the four weeks with a 12-week online mentorship.

“This initiative is about more than just repairing phones. It’s about equipping rural youth with the tools, confidence and networks to create sustainable livelihoods,” said Gumbo.

The project is supported by partners including Human Capital Learning Solutions, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, and the Department of Social Development’s Lusikisiki office.

By investing in digital and technical skills, WSU and NEMISA aim to unlock economic opportunities in rural communities, ensuring young people are not left behind in South Africa’s growing technology sector.

By Queen Masango